---

Extraordinary Rendition

Some media reports over the past 48 hours, based on a leaked government document, have suggested that the Government may be aware that there have been cases of ““extraordinary rendition”” through UK territory or airspace about which they have not informed Parliament. This is not the case. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Jack Straw) has given Parliament clear answers, updated as information has become available to him. The following chronology makes this clear. 7 December: the leaked document was sent by his office to the Prime Minister's Office, setting out our understanding at that time. 12 December: after continuing searches of official records over the following few days, his Written Answer to the right honourable Member for North East Fife, (Sir Menzies Campbell) (Official Report, col. 1652W) set out the facts as they had then been established: there had been three instances in 1998 where the US authorities had requested permission to render a detainee through UK territory or airspace; and in two of these cases, where the detainee was to be transferred to the US for trial, the US request had been granted. In the other case, it had been refused. He added that officials continued to search the records. 13 December: my right honourable friend discussed these issues at length in his public evidence session with the Foreign Affairs Committee. 10 January: I issued a Written Ministerial Statement saying that Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials had now completed a search of their records back to May 1997. This search had turned up one further case, also in 1998: the Government had declined a US request to refuel a flight carrying two detainees en route to the US. To summarise the position: we have found no evidence of detainees being rendered through the UK or overseas territories since 11 September 2001; we have found no evidence of detainees being rendered through the UK or overseas territories since 1997 where there were substantial grounds to believe there was a real risk of torture. There were four cases in 1998 where the US requested permission to render one or more detainees through the UK or overseas territories. In two of these cases, records show that the Government granted the US request, and refused two others. Since before September 2001 we have worked closely with the US to achieve our shared goal of fighting terrorism. As part of that close co-operation, we have made clear to the US authorities, including in recent months: that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including Overseas Territories); that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations; and how we understand our obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture. We are also clear that the US would not render a detainee through UK territory or airspace (including Overseas Territories) without our permission. As noted above, the US has sought such permission in the past. The Government are committed to fulfilling their obligations under United Kingdom and international law. I have sought throughout to keep the House informed of developments and shall do so again if new information comes to light.